Fastener for watch bracelets



Maf,Y 211930. C. MOST 1,760,384

FASTENER FOR WATCH BRACELETS Filedv April 5, 1929 NETE,

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CHARLES R. TOST, F CENTER/DALE, EJE-GDE XSLAD,`ASSGNOR TO TIE RADLEY GOM- IPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHDE ISLAND, A GORP(DEMXTICON'.OE'` RHODE ISLAND i FAsTnivEia ron WATCH `isrnficiiiin'is Application led April 5, 1929. Serial No. 352,666.`

This invention relates to fasteners for y separably attaching the ends of a bracelet or the like to t-he respective loo} s or bails of a wrist watch or similar article, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a detachable fastener' of improved constructi on, comprising a holder for receiving such loop or bail anda coinplemental locking member hinged to the holder land constituting a cam lever operative concomitantly to clamp the loop against the holder and to confine the loop between the holder and the locking member. i

Further objects reside in the structural. features of a recommended embodiment of the invention as hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a wrist watch `bracelet equipped with a pair of the improved fasteners;

Fig. 2 is rear view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of Aone of the fasteners; u

Fig. l1 is an end View thereof;

Fig. 5 is a bottom view to larger scale showing one of the vfasteners with its hinged locking element in open position; and

Fig. `G is a central longitudinal section through an opened connector showing its holder "received within the loop or bail of a wrist watch.

rlhe wrist watch 11 indicated in Fig. 6 is intended to be representative of any watch or similar article having bails or loops 12 at its opposite sides for attachment to the ends of a wristwencircling bracelet which may comprise one or more sections 13. When two such sections are provided, as shown, they may be separably or extensibly interconnected as by a folding attachment 1a or other suitable device. The bracelet may be made of any suitable flexible material such as a strap or straps of metal-mesh, leather or fabric; cords, thongs or ribbons; or other i material having free ends adapted to be pinched and retained within the improved connectors. `The particular shape, design or structure of these elements of the completed article is immaterial to the present invention.

"posite end of the fastener, and the cani lever Each of the fasteners for releasably attach` ing the` free ends of the bracelet lto the respective loops or hails 12 preferably coni prises a `holder or jaw member including a flat portion 15 provided withl ugvnstanding sides or ears 16 having opposed openings 17, and a curved lioolr portion 18'having a central recess 19 at its outer edge and a complemental locking member orl cam lever pivoted as by studs 20witliin theopenings 17 and Vincluding a cam portion 21 and a lever portion 22, the latter having' a central-curved 'projection or tongue`23 receivable within the recess 19 when the yiaw members are swung together into edgewise engagement. The interfitting ends of the jaws accordingly pro` videa closed `hook having `smooth. curved inner `and `outer surfaces, .the width of the hook being such that the interengaging yaws removably receive and retain the loops orv bails 12.

closing the fastener. The end of said `cam `portion is preferably toothed oi' serrated, as

at 24E, to bite into the surface of the bracelet end (Fig. 3.) ,positively to lock the parts together with` a snap'action as the lever arm 22 is closed upon the hook portion 18. rlhe curved tongue 23 may have a notch or recess 25 to permit easy access by the linger nail for opening the fastener.

To attach the parts together, the curved hook 18 of the open fastener is passedthrough the bail or loop 12 of the watch or similar article, the bracelet end is inserted in the opis snapped into place concoi'nitantly to close the hook and pinoli the bracelet between the plateV 15 andthe cam 21 of the fastener. Thus, the closed fastener is securely and positively locked againstaccidentalopening; yet the pivoted cani levcrfmay readily be swung out of locking engagement by the nger, as aforesaid, to release the bracelet and permit detachment of the. bail. f y

A connector of fastener constructed as i.

bracelet section 13 is above described is simple and economical to the closed hook having substantially smooth manufacture, easy to operate, and neat in apinner and outer surfaces.

pearance without sacrifice of operative efficiency.' The article may be vmerchandised as a. separate unit or together with the bracelet upon which it may be fastened; in either case the detachable fastener may be applied to any common type of flexible bracelet and attached to a loop or bail, either rigid or flexible, carried by another article. Obviously, structural details of the device herein illustrated may be varied to suit particular purposes without departing from the essence of this invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A fastener for separably connecting the end of a bracelet section to the bail of a wrist watch, comprising a jaw member having a hook at one end and a pair of upstanding ears adjacent its opposite end, and a cam lever pivoted between said ears and having a curved lever end to swing into edgewise engagement with said hook to enclose the bail therebehind, and a cam portion for gripping a bracelet end received between said ears when the cam lever is snapped into closed position, thereby concomitantly to lock the bracelet and bail at opposite ends of the fastener, the hook and curved lever end having complemental tongue and recess portions, and one of said portions having an edge recess permitting the separation of the parts by the finger.

2. A fastener for separably connecting the end of a bracelet section to the bail of a watch, comprising a pair of hinged jaw members having correspondingly curved ends adapted to enclose the bail at one end of the fastener, the curved ends of the respective members havingecomplemental tongue and recess portions mutually interfitting in edgewise relationship when said ends are swung together, said hinged jaw member forming a continuous loop having substantially smooth inner and outer surfaces, and a cam portion formed on one of said members for pinching the `bracelet section against the other member at lthe opposite end of the fastener when said members are closed.

3. A fastener for separablyconnecting the end of a bracelet section to the bail of a watch or the like, comprising a jaw member having upstanding side portions at one end and Va -curved hook portion at its opposite end, the

hook portion having a central recess at its transverse edge, and a locking member pivoted between said side portions, and provided at one end with a cam portion for gripping a bracelet end received between said side portions when the locking member is swung to close the hook portion to enclose the bail behind t-he hook, the locking member having a projecting tongue at its opposite end formed to fit said recess in edgewise relationship,

Signed by me at Providence, Rhode Island,

this 2nd day of April, 1929.

CHARLES TOST. 

